Cosplay
Costumed role-playing representing specific characters.
Cosplay, a portmanteau of 'costume play,' is an activity and performance art in which participants called cosplayers wear costumes and fashion accessories to represent a specific character.
- field
- Performance art, fan costuming
- known_for
- Costumed role-playing representing specific characters
- related_terms
- Crossplay, gender-bending
Lore & Background
Cosplay grew out of fan costuming at science fiction conventions. Douglas (known as Morojo) wore 'futuristicostumes' based on pulp magazine artwork and the film Things to Come. Early Worldcon masquerades included bands, dancing, food, and drinks, with contestants walking across a stage or cleared dance floor.
Reader's Guide
Cosplay has become a global phenomenon, with events common at fan conventions and dedicated conventions, competitions, social networks, websites, and other media centered on the activity. It is popular among all genders, and crossplay (gender-bending) is not unusual. The term 'cosplay' has also been adopted as slang, often in politics, to mean someone pretending to play a role or take on a personality disingenuously. Cosplay's significance lies in its blend of performance, fandom, and community, allowing individuals to embody characters from a wide range of sources including anime, cartoons, manga, comic books, television series, musical artists, video games, memes, and original characters.
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